Dunbar poised for Walker debut says skipper

Amateur ace Alan Dunbar has put himself in pole position to earn his Walker Cup call up in September.

That's the view of GB&I skipper Colin Dalgleish, who confessed that he wasn't seriously considering the Portrush ace before he captured the St Andrews Links Trophy on Sunday.

Alan Dunbar is looking good for Walker Cup selectionDunbar, 19, is now a virtual certainty to make the side with Dalgleish admitting: "We have lost players like Shane Lowry but Alan is someone we will be watching closely when we are picking the team.

"It was a great win and he is a player that for some time we have recognised as a powerful young player with a lot of potential.

"He's well in the mix right now, that is for sure. He has taken a significant step up.

"Until his performance at the weekend he was probably not in serious consideration."

Dalgleish lost star player Lowry to the professional ranks when the Offaly man grabbed the 3 Irish Open as an amateur in May.

But it remains to be seen how many Irish players will get the call up to face the Americans at Merion from September 12-13.

Ireland has not had more than two players in a Walker Cup side since 1991 when Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Gareth McGimpsey played at Portmarnock.

Ireland struggling in hat-trick chase

Not one of the six-man side could break par in the first round, leaving Kevin Flanagan's side a massive 28 shots behind leaders England in 14th place.

What's worse is that Ireland are 12 strokes outside the top eight sides that will earn the right to battle it out for the title following Wednesday's second strokeplay qualifying round.

Matteo ManasseroItalian 16 year old Matteo Massanero, the youngest winner of the Amateur Championship at Formby just 10 days ago, rattled around in six-under par 66 to set the pace in the individual competition and lop a stroke off the amateur course record.

But it was not a day to remember for an Irish side that features several players with high hopes of making the Walker Cup side later this year.

Kearney gets Walker Cup call

A day of intrigue and mystery ended in relief and delight for Niall Kearney last night when he learned that he will become the 34th Irishman to represent Great Britain and Ireland in next month’s Walker Cup matches against the United States.

Kearney with the Brabazon TrophyThe 21-year old Royal Dublin international received the good news in a phone call from the chairman of the R&A selection committee, Tony Disley, as he relaxed in his Mullingar hotel room last night.

But it appears certain that Kearney will be the sole Irish representative in the ten-man team hoping to wrest back the trophy from the Americans when the side is officially announced today.

Walker Cup caps for Dunbar and Cutler

Paul Cutler is expected to be one of the strongmen for GB&I in the Walker Cup. Picture by golffile.ieWalker Cup skipper Nigel Edwards is expecting big things from Irish pair Paul Cutler and Alan Dunbar at Royal Aberdeen next month.

The Ulster duo were named in the Welsh skipper’s 10-man side which will be bidding to deny a formidable USA squad its fourth successive victory in the competition when they meet over the Balgownie Links from September 10-11.